> Chris Matthews asked Red Cross president Marty Evans for "assurances" that the aid money was going directly to tsunami victims. "So none of the money is going to go to build a swimming pool in Seattle, right?," Matthews asked. Matthews called tonight "America at its best."

> From the AP: "Appearing also was Fox News Channel commentator Bill O'Reilly, who had questioned on his show whether participating stars would follow through to see if the money made it to its intended beneficiaries. Actor George Clooney immediately challenged O'Reilly to do his part and participate. When people are in trouble, 'they turn to friends who become their lifeline,' O'Reilly said. 'Who are their friends? You are.'"

> Update: 9:56pm: "I am not an O'Reilly fan, but I thought his segment was just fine," an e-mailer says. "He is there because George Clooney called him out and NBC knew it would get Fox viewers to watch and contribute." "If his appearance brings in donations, it's worth it," another person says.

> Matt Lauer's intro included before and after satellite images of the damage: "Please counter-act the force of that devastation with the force of your giving," he said.

> Brian Williams narrated an opening segment about the tsunami and the relief efforts.

> MSNBC.com's headline at 9:30pm: "Concert Of Hope: Stars align to help tsunami survivors." NBC.com and MSNBC.com offered live streaming video of the event. MSNBC.com put webcasts of the performances online within minutes of their conclusion.

> "Celebrity watching has never been more important than it is right now," MSNBC.com's Michael Ventre says.

An e-mailer asks: "Why in the world would NBC/Universal let Bill O'Reilly appear on their telethon? What does he bring to this event? And why would you let a competitor on your air? This is why NBC can't get MSNBC & CNBC up to snuff ratings wise: They let competitors push themselves and their products (books, radio shows, whatever) on THEIR air. Big mistake. Huge. About as huge as Bill's ego."

> Also: MSNBC's Keith Olbermann called it "free publicity" earlier this week...

> Update: 10:56pm: "George Clooney pretty much goaded me into it, not that I minded it," O'Reilly said on At Large around 10:30pm. Geraldo asked: "What was it like being in the belly of the liberal beast?" "Everybody was really nice to me to my face," O'Reilly said. The lower-third exclaimed: "O'Reilly's Tsunami Relief." "The experience was 100 percent positive. I'm sure there were pinheads around, but they didn't bother me," he concluded.

> Update: 6:30pm Sunday: Johnny Dollar has the transcript of the Geraldo/O'Reilly chat.

> Chris Matthews on Crossfire: "It became ESPN politics — either you care about the causes and the issues or you don't. I guess I side with Jon Stewart on this." (TV Guide)

> Dr. Bob Arnot appeared on MSNBC's Scarborough Country Friday night. He returned from the tsunami-devestated region with "exclusive new video" of the damage...

> Chris Knowles, a writer/producer for The Fox Report, has been promoted to weathercaster at FNC, B&C says (regreq)

> The Starr Report: "Congrats to CNBC's Sue Herera and husband Dan, who've adopted twins Vickie and Jackie from China."

> From Monica Crowley's web site: "Due to my new MSNBC television schedule, I will no longer be hosting the 'Monica Crowley Show' on SUNDAYS on 77WABC." Her radio show will continue on Saturday mornings though. (Thanks Dave)

Updating yesterday's scoop, two other MSNBC employees have confirmed that Imus in the Morning is definitely moving to Secaucus, NJ on January 31. Tom Biro at The Media Drop reacts: "Imus hates the Astoria studio that he's in at WFAN, and makes no bones about saying so - which makes it all the less surprising that this is actually happening. But I'm wondering if he's going to lose a bit of rapport with the other talent on the show, namely Bernard McGuirk and Sid Rosenberg, as well as the rest of the WFAN crew that pop in on the show from time to time."

And, Tom adds, "I hope that this doesn't turn the show into more of a television program, be cause it's not." I hear MSNBC's news anchors will be incorporated at the top of the hour for news updates, but that may be while the radio show is in commercials...

> FNC premieres "George W. Bush: Behind the Headlines" Sunday at 9pm. Brit Hume hosts the "intimate portrait of our president," through "rare photos, unseen video and exclusive interviews with the president's inner circle." (Media Matters has raised a red flag.)

> On CNN, Sibila Vargas is hosting a Golden Globe preview show, "Road to Gold: The Winner Is..." It is playing several times today. Tomorrow, Miles O'Brien hosts "CNN 25: Innovations."

> MSNBC is re-airing a few of its 9pm "special reports" this weekend: "Amber Frey: Witness," "Nature's Fury: Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Mudslides," and "Tsunami: Anatomy of a Disaster" are in the lineup.